Sunday, April 27, 2008

Recorded in the fall of 1999 and released in 2000, Baltimore Is Scum was Abe Froman's first release. It's definitely one of my favorite 7"s out there.Abe Froman was a pop punk trio of the Plan-It-X variety consisting of Erin & Matt Tobey and Ryan Batkie. After their 7", they released a self-titled LP in 2001 and a split LP with Soophie Nun Squad.

Erin provides the vocal onslaught and axe madness on Baltimore Is Scum, Matt the XY-chromosome version of the vocal onslaught, and Ryan voice box assassination and the 4-string assault weapon.

Abe Froman went on hiatus after Ryan started school in Philadelphia and played their last show at Plan-It-X fest in 2004.

Erin and Matt both played in Mt. Gigantic. Matt plays solo as Matty Pop Chart, and Erin has a solo project as well. She joined Richmond-based Pink Razors in the spring of last year.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

So there were a few bands called Evergreen, but the best is definitely a 1990s emo band from California. If I didn't love '90s emo & hardcore enough, the Viva La Vinyl '90s sendspace forum certainly made me love it even more. Weeks of ridiculous collectors posting rarities you thought you'd never find.

Anyway, Evergreen included Aaron Calvert on guitar, Andy Ward on bass (also of Antioch Arrow), and Jason Boesel on drums (now in Rilo Kiley). Kind of like the Pissed Officers to Bishop Allen transition, I don't really know how Jason Boesel made that transition. (Disclaimer: I actually have an incredibly soft spot for Rilo Kiley.)

Evergreen released two 7"s, a split 7" with Still Life, and the insanely rare 7 Songs LP on Anomaly Records. The ever-wise Evan told me that this is so rare because they weren't happy with how they turned out and dumped them on the side of the street (or something of the sort). You can still find their These Last Days 7" from Gravity Records.Here's their Trudy Push Pin 7" released in 1994 on Wrenched Records.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Life at These Speeds were a band from Portland that broke up this past fall. Their split with Thank God on Exotic Fever and Tick Tock Records is their last release. You can still find it a bunch of places- I got mine from Robotic Empire. More than worth your $4. LATS also have a self-titled album and To Your Health.Thank God are from Columbia, South Carolina, and have a bunch of stuff out on Tick Tock.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Antlers are a band from the Richmond area with members from Mass Movement of the Moth, Gregor Samsa, and some others. More instrumental/mellow than Mass Movement and really pretty. Erin Tobey joins them on this album. After starting out in Michigan with Abe Froman, then moving to Portland with Mt. Gigantic, she's now based in Richmond. In addition to playing with Antlers, she also does solo work (as a musician and artist) and is now playing with Pink Razors.This is their debut album out now on vinyl and CD on Rorschach.

After some debate at the station last night, it seems that Pissed Officers and Bishop Allen are actually connected. How you go from being in an awesome hardcore band to Bishop Allen though is another question.Anyway, they released a split with Gerty Farish a while back that rips.

Gerty Farish are playing tomorrow (April 12) at the Middle East Upstairs with some others pissed dudes.... This time, Pissed Jeans. Tinsel Teeth and Reports will also be playing.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Redwing Blackbird will be playing this Friday evening (April 11) at the Advocate at 7:45 with Son of the Renegade and Susan Putnins of the Sinister Turns. The Advocate is at 21 South Street in Harvard Square. Afterwards, Redwing Blackbird will be playing live on WHRB at 10 pm.They are a folk duo from New Hamsphire made up of Austin Wright and Eric Gagne. Eric used to be in Death to Tyrants.This past fall they released their self-titled debut CD on Red Room Records.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Most people listen to pop punk in middle school. I never fully grew out of my pop punk phase. Pink Razors are a such a band from Richmond. Robotic Empire released their full length, Waiting to Wash Up, at the beginning of 2006. They are part of a really awesome scene in Richmond along with other bands like Ultra Dolphins (who are coming to RH Fest this year!) and Brainworms. Rorschach sent us some their First Degree 7" at the station recently along with a bunch of other great releases.